Woman found fatally stabbed in Montebello, roommate sought as 'person of interest'

MONTEBELLO - Investigators sought a man for questioning Thursday after his roommate was discovered fatally stabbed in their house, authorities said.

The body of Carmen King, 63, was found shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday at a house in the 600 block of North 20th Street, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said.

Emelio Martinez, 51, was a `person of interest' in the slaying of his roommate, whose body was discovered by a family member who went to the home to check on the woman, Lt. Holly Francisco of the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau said. The Sheriff's Homicide Bureau is assisting Montebello police in the investigation.

"She hadn't been heard from in couple days," Francisco said.

King had been stabbed multiple times in the "upper torso," Francisco said. Detectives declined to discuss what type of weapon was used or whether it was recovered at the scene.

Detectives have been unable to locate King's roommate since the body was found, officials said.

"We want to talk to Emelio Martinez, who we believe probably had last contact with the victim," Francisco said. But investigators stopped short of labeling Martinez a suspect in the killing.

Also missing was the King's car, the lieutenant said. It was described as a burgundy 2000 Dodge Stratus with a California license plate number of 4JMC641.

Other than being roommates, the relationship between Martinez and the dead woman was not clear, officials said.

It was also not known Thursday exactly how long King had been dead before her body was discovered, Francisco said.

An autopsy was pending, Winter said.

King was believed to have been working as a caretaker for an elderly resident of the home who died of natural causes earlier this month, Francisco said. Nothing criminal was suspected in that death.

No information was available regarding Martinez's employment or past.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Anyone who spots Martinez or King's Dodge Stratus was advised not to approach him, but to call 9-1-1 immediately.